M11 crash: Driver cut free from wreckage of car after hitting stationary road works vehicle on southbound carriageway between Saffron Walden and Bishop’s Stortford
A man was taken to hospital after his car crashed into a stationary road works protection vehicle on the M11 near Bishop’s Stortford, leaving him trapped in the wreckage.
The incident happened on the southbound carriageway just north of junction 8 at about 9.30pm on Saturday night (February 8). The motorway was closed for more than an hour.
A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “The car driver sustained a head injury and was taken to hospital. His condition isn’t considered to be life threatening.”
An Essex and Herts Air Ambulance attended the scene, along with two ambulances, a paramedic car and officers from Essex Police and National Highways.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service crews from Newport and Saffron Walden used hydraulic cutting equipment to free the trapped driver from his Kia.
A spokesman for Newport fire station said: “We quickly got to work stabilising the vehicles while administering first aid to the trapped driver.
“We were soon joined by Saffron Walden. We then used hydraulic cutting equipment to extricate the trapped driver from the car.
“This involved multiple agencies coming together. The M11 was closed whilst the rescue operation was in progress. The casualty was transferred to a nearby A&E hospital.”
At the time of the collision National Highways was carrying out road works and one lane had been closed to traffic.
A spokesperson said none of its workers was injured in the incident.
“The lane closure was in place for electrical works in relation to upgrading streetlights to more energy-efficient LED lighting at junction 8 of the M11 and the A120 fast link exit slip road near Stansted Airport and Bishop’s Stortford/Birchanger services.
“During the incident, the planned northbound closure was put on hold until the incident had been cleared.”
A spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “Fire and rescue colleagues assisted us in extricating one patient, and one man was transported by road ambulance to Princess Alexandra Hospital [in Harlow] for further assessment and care.”
The collision scene was cleared by 11.18pm.
